First day in the yard was pretrips and in-cabs and the COLA tests. We were in the yard for 2-3 days before we started skills.

I don't know if it will make you feel any better but our trainer thought he would be amusing (and we so love to be amused) that our first night behind the wheel was spent:

Backing up 100 feet in a straight line...
Stopping within a one foot allowance area....
Backing up and stopping on command (again one foot allowance)....
and
PARALLEL PARKING!

We didn't know how to shift yet so we could only use granny gear and reverse. I guess this is all we really could do that night but we were very surprised to be parallel parking on our first outing....

We had fun though........ and we did really well.

Last night (our second night in the truck) we spent shifting through the low gears...(1-4) ..... double clutching on the way up and no second clutch on the way down (forgot what it is called - just bringing the rpm up enough that the gear slides in)......... we are supposed to get to go to 5 maybe 6 tonight....

We only go for 4 hours each night so we each get about 45/50 minutes each in the truck after running through the pre-trip stuff.

How many hours did you have to spend in "the classroom" before you were actually driving? We were soooooooooo bored sitting there!!!

Did you pass your test????


Day 11 out of 40

Well, the first day in the yard we did the alley dock, parallel parking and straight line backing. It's hard to do straight line back when the yard is bumpy! The dmv is paved, so it is alot easier. 40 hours/10 per day....those videos, (my favorite.."The None Zone"), whoooohoooo!
I was supposed to take my test last Friday. On Thursday, I went in to go over the LOCA with on of the guys in the class. When I got to school one of the intructors came up to me and told me that one the persons testing were going early and asked if I wanted to go and watch. So I went, and when I got to DMV I was asked if I wanted to go at 1pm, (it was 10:30am) and I said why not? The second person in my class was supposed to go at 2:30pm but had to swap with me for personal reasons. I missed lunch, stomach grumbling loudly now. They started their test late, at 2:30pm and got through the pretrip, in-cab and LOCA, then failed on skills. Now it is 3:15pm and they call me for mine. I am the last one and the evaluator is in a big hurry and seems not happy about being there. He has me skip a bunch of stuff on the pretrip and go right to the incab. Note that he marked me off for stuff that he told me to skip!

I did all the incab and LOCA with no problems and went on to skills and did those. Now, it was getting close to 3:15pm and I actually thought they were going to have me do the driving portion the next day. Oh no, off we went into the start of the afternoon commute. I was doing pretty good until he told me to make this right turn at the last second and I missed a gear downshifting and I couldn't get it back into gear within the length of the truck. Failed right there...

The school, to their credit, had me come in this week and practice one on one with different instructors to work on my downshifting. They both said that I was ready to go, which helped my confidence alot. Actually, I felt really good and it's up to me not to pysch myself out. I'll let you know how it goes.

After several weeks one on one, once a week for 1-1.5 hrs, with an instructor, I passed my driving test. I should have passed it last time, but I clipped a curb, not ran over it, but just clipped it. No, biggie, I just went out and nailed it today. Next week it's off to Gordon Trucking for orientation !!!!! Hope to see you out there on the road!

Congratulations!

Now that you have the test mastered.......... wanna go take it for me??

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The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein

Well, if I never take another freaking test, it will be too soon! The best advice I can give is to believe in yourself, practice down-shifting, watch your speed and don't clip any curbs!. Good luck to you in the future!

Not to burst your bubble, but won't you have to take a drive test with GTI when you start for them?

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Maybe, but the initial one at the DMV is probally the hardest. Is it before or after the 28days with the mentor?

Party Pooper!

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The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein

Got through the first driving test with Gordon, it was mostly to see if I hit the curbs and to make sure I could actually drive the truck! Head in out today with my finisher..I'll let you know how it goes!